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n behalf of the Government of Canada I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to O

this third special edition of the Canada Arizona Business Council Resource Guide which explores the opportunities that trade and investment with Canada presents for the Arizona business community. Arizona with 300+ Canadian companies, a million Canadian tourists a year, a border with Mexico and a growing Hispanic population presents a multitude of opportunities for Canada. Since 1994, U.S.–Canada trade increased over 160%. Canada and the United States are each other’s most important trading partners, with over $734 billion of trade annually in goods and services. Canada is the second largest export market for Arizona, after Mexico, with $3.7 billion in goods trade in 2013. Did you know that 132,200 Arizona jobs depend on trade with Canada? Close to 15,000 Arizonans are employed by Canadian-owned businesses in the state.

Canada is like your attic, you forget that it is up there… …but when you go up it’s like “oh man, look at all this great stuff.”

James VilleneuveConsul General of Canada

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More than 300 Canadian companies are currently operating in Arizona including, BMO Harris Bank, which has been doing business in Arizona since 1965 and employs more than 500 people statewide in 51 banking centers. I am proud to report that in addition to providing jobs in Arizona, for the almost past 50 years, BMO Harris Bank has been recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as a “Best Place to Work.” BMO is only one example of Canadian companies in Arizona, which represent a diverse range of sectors from aerospace, clean tech, mining, information and health technologies to financial services, retail, real estate and renewable energy. Canadians love to visit Arizona, particularly during the winter, to enjoy the beautiful tourist locations and warm weather with 895,900 Canadians visiting the state in 2013. In addition, the Canadian footprint in Arizona continues to grow with over 100,000 Canadians residing permanently in Arizona. Canadian residents account for 93% of all internationally owned residential property in Maricopa County (Greater Phoenix) worth 4.8 billion dollars. Canadians also account for 90% of all internationally owned nonresidential (commercial) properties in Maricopa County (Greater Phoenix) worth 7 billion dollars. 

At our Consulate we promote and facilitate trade & investment between Canada and Arizona, encourage dialogue and partnerships between stakeholders across the border and raise awareness of the importance of Canada to Arizona. We encourage you to contact us at www.losangeles.gc.ca if you have an interest in advancing this burgeoning relationship. We also suggest that you follow us on Twitter @CanCGLA to get the latest information on Canada in the Southwest (@CGCanLA in French). Under the enthusiastic, energetic leadership of Glenn Williamson, the Canada-Arizona Business Council has been an important ally and partner and we are also very pleased that Glenn is Canada’s Honorary Consul in Arizona. As founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council, a private sector group dedicated to increasing trade and investment between Canada and Arizona, Glenn has worked tirelessly for years to promote our bilateral relationship. We look forward to working with the CABC to expand our ties with Arizona and create opportunities for businesses on both sides of the border.